<!DOCTYPE html>
<html class="writer-html5" lang="en" >
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8" />
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
  <title>QtDragon Documentation</title>
  <link href="help.css" rel="stylesheet">
</head>
<body>
<div class="sidenav">
    <img src="images/WoodPecker.png" alt="Qt_WoodPecker">
    <ul style="list-style-type:none">
    <li><a href="hole_circle_utility.html">HOLE CIRCLE UTILITY</a></li>
    <li><a href="facing_utility.html">FACING UTILITY</a></li>
    <li><a href="ngcgui.html">NGCGUI</a></li>
    <li><a href="database.html">TOOL DATABASE</a></li>
    <li><a href="using_a_vfd.html">USING A VFD</a></li>
    <li><a href="spindle_pause.html">SPINDLE PAUSE</a></li>
    <li><a href="z_level_comp.html">Z LEVEL COMPENSATION</a></li>
    <li><a href="using_a_mpg.html">USING A MPG</a></li>
    <li><a href="probing.html">PROBING</a></li>
    <li><a href="runfromline.html">RUN FROM LINE</a></li>
    <li><a href="stylesheets.html">STYLESHEETS</a></li>
    <li><a href="about.html">ABOUT</a></li>
    </ul>
</div>
        
<div class = "main">
<h1>TOOL DATABASE</h1>
<p>The tool database utility enables the user to store additional information about the tools listed in the linuxcnc tool.tbl file.
This extra information is kept in a SQLITE database. On startup, the program checks if the database exists and creates one if needed.
Data that exists in the system tool.tbl cannot be modified by this program. That data can only be modified by the tool_offsetview module.</p>

<h2>Usage</h2>
<p>Very little user action is required other than entering data into the parameter fields of the tool information panel. This panel appears
on the right side of the tool_offset view in the TOOL page.</p>
    <ul>
    <li>A combobox is used to select an icon to be displayed whenever a tool is loaded into the spindle.</li>
    <li>To use tool icons, there must be a directory in the CONFIG folder called <i>tool_icons</i>.</li>
    <li>The <i>tool_icons</i> must be .png images. This enables them to have transparent backgrounds.</li>
    <li>If a recommended RPM value is entered, a corresponding SCS value is calculated.</li>
    <li>All parameter fields that are editable can be filled in without committing them to the database.</li>
    <li>To commit the changes to the database, the user must press RETURN on one of the parameter fields.</li>
    <li>If the ADD TOOL button on the tool_offsetview is pressed, the tool info panel will show the next lowest tool number available.</li>
    <li>Currently, duplicate tool numbers are not allowed. (This may change in the future).</li>
    <li>To display the stored info for a particular tool, set that tool to checked in the tool_offsetview.</li>
    <li>Tool parameters can only be modified if the machine is ON and the interpreter is IDLE.</li>
    </ul>
</body>
</html>
